2018 NFL draft: Browns on pace to own pair of top-5 picks

The Cleveland Browns kept their commanding lead for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft with yet another loss Sunday, but the failures of another AFC team could also pay big dividends for the Dawg Pound this offseason.

With a 26-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Houston Texans fell to 4-9 on the season, putting them on pace to have a top-five slot in next year’s draft (via Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout):

The good news for the Browns? They own Houston’s first-round pick in 2018, courtesy of last year’s draft-day trade.

Now, that trade netted the Texans a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, something the Browns still seem incapable of finding. Draft picks are only valuable if used effectively, and few teams have failed to maximize their premium picks in recent history quite like Cleveland.

Still, for fans of a winless team with just three weeks left in the regular season, the chance to own not just the top overall pick next year, but another selection in the top five, is at least something to move the needle in the right direction.